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(BaseballStL) -- Brian Fuentes, who appeared in six games with the Cardinals this season, has decided to retire, according to the Merced Sun-Star.

The 37-year-old left-hander joined the Cardinals this season after being released by the A’s, but took a leave of absence to attend to family matters.

“Ultimately, I was just having trouble with the time away from my family," Fuentes told the Merced Sun-Star. "I've been playing baseball for all of their lives, but I'd never been so far away as when I was in St. Louis.”

Fuentes elected to retire after playing for six teams in 12 Major League seasons. He spent the majority of his career with the Rockies where he recorded 115 saves in seven seasons.

In 2009, he recorded a career-high 48 saves while playing for the Angels. The four-time All-Star was also a reliever for the United States in the first-ever World Baseball Classic.

Fuentes retires with a career 26-43 record with a 3.62 ERA and 204 saves.